Quincy Public Schools Parent Academy Connecting Homes Schools

Quincy Public Schools Parent Academy Connecting Homes – Schools and Student Performance Empowering and Enabling Parents Access to Information through the Aspen Student Portal Developed and Presented by: S QPS Educational and Informational Technology

Welcome Introductions and S Keith Segalla, QPS Executive Director Career & Technical Education and Instructional Technology S Members of the Quincy School Committee S Dr. Richard De. Cristofaro, Superintendent of Schools S Superintendent’s Leadership Team S Middle School Principals Team S Educational Technology Team S Information Technology Team S QPS Aspen Champion Trainers

Agenda • F irst Ho Ord t er o Do Coff nat ee, f. B Pro ed usi W • a b nes Pre gram y the ter, P s s a Q Pre enta HS stri sen tio Cu es ~ lina tati n Fo ons ry A lde rts and r ~ Ad Pow diti e ona rpoin t l. M ate rial s S Aspen Student Information System (SIS) S Overview S Planning / Implementation / Reflection and Assessment S Introduction to Aspen Student Portal S How QPS Staff are Integrating Aspen Technology S A Principal’s Perspective S Additional Supports and Resources S Break-Out Session: Student Portal ~ Interactive

QPS Educational and Informational Technology Teams 2013 -2014 GOALS Ø • D ist Te ric am t Im E O • sta r pro g De blish ani vem • fine z SM atio Pla en n/Im Actio ART n ~ t. P 72 lan n G p o S l QP ~C em a t e l s p ent ST /Re s/Tim To provide effective and efficient communicationontand eam inu flec elin s ou information to key stakeholders, including teachers, s Imp t and As es rov ses em sm parents, and students… ent en • t~ Ø Support and promote educational technology resources that will work to enhance the teaching and learning experiences for both the staff and students… Ø Provide focused outreach (training/professional development) to our staff, students, and parents on using these technological resources to support and strengthen the home school relationship as it relates to student learning, virtual learning, library resources, and communication. . . S

What is Aspen? S Aspen is a secure, web-based school information management system. Aspen manages all facets of student data, including attendance, assessments, grades, report cards, schedules, and so much more…. (parents please note that full implementation of the academic portion of the student portal is not mandatory for teachers at this time) S You may access Aspen from any computer that connects to the internet (home, work, or school). S Aspen is also available via mobile devices (cell phones and tablets). S Web address: aspen. quincypublicschools. com. Login and Password required.

Other Local Aspen Districts: Abington Amesbury Andover Athol-Royalston Attleboro Barnstable Bedford Belmont Billerica Blackstone Blue Hills Tech Boston Braintree Brookline Burlington Chelmsford Chelsea Concord Dartmouth Dighton Dover Sherborn Duxbury Easton Everett Fairhaven Fall River Fitchburg Framingham Franklin Lawrence GNB Tech Hamilton Wen Hanover Haverhill Hingham Holbrook Hull Innovation Leominster Lexington Lincoln Littleton Lowell Ludlow Malden Manchester Essex Mansfield Marblehead Mc. Cann Tech Melrose Middleborough Milford Millbury Minuteman Monomoy Monty. Tech Nashoba. Tech Nauset NE Metro Tech Newburyport North Attleborough Norwell Plymouth Quincy Rockland Saugus Scituate Seton Somerville South Shore Ed Collab Swampscott Swansea Tewksbury Triton Walpole West Bridgewater Westwood Weymouth Wilmington South Shore Communities

Our USERS Include: District Level Administrators School Staff (1, 047) Principals / Assistant Principals Teachers, Deans, Student Support Staff Nurses, Secretaries, Attendance Aides, etc… Students and Parents (2, 126 QPS middle school students registered)

An Overview of Quincy’s Student Information System and Implementation of Aspen Components and Modules Attendance Implementation Middle/High Schools December 2013 Implementation Sept 2014 Implementation August 2013 Implementation Sept 2013 Elementary/Middle/High Schools Student and Parent Portal Curriculum and Learning State Reporting Implementation Sept 2014 Scheduling Quincy Public Schools Information Published Reports Professional Development Special Education Implementation Sept 2013 Middle/High Schools Assessment Teacher Grade Book Implementation Sept 2014 Implementation In Process Implementation Sept 2013 Middle/High Schools

Aspen Implementation/Timeline ASPEN MODULES TIMELINE LEVEL(S) STATUS Fundamental Fall 2013 s Attendance Fall 2013 Elementary/Middle /High Complete Elementary/Middle/High Complete Grade Book Fall 2013 Middle/High Ongoing Student Portal Teacher Pages Curriculum and Learning Winter 2014 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Middle/High Ongoing Middle/High Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Elementary/Middle/High

Aspen Student Portal is a Enables administrators, component of Aspen that parents, and students to students and parents can make informed decisions about student behavior, access: support, and performance. • Student Attendance • Student Grades • Interim Reports • Student Schedules • Teacher Webpages • Teacher Assignments • Assessments • Email Teacher • Virtual Student Locker • So much more…

Aspen Student Portal Provides PARENTS a wide range of student data available for parental view: Ø Access to academic information for each student (instant access to monitor student progress) Ø Address any potential issues or concerns before they become serious Provides STUDENTS real-time access to your child’s own academic and activity information: Ø Store student files, recommendation letters and homework assignments in the “virtual locker” Ø Compare personal scores to the rest of the class Ø Manage extracurricular sports and club activities Ø Access to the Destiny Library Manager System Ø Enter course requests online (Grades 8 -12)

M A S E L P Student/Parent View

How QPS Staff are Integrating Aspen Technology Laura Shea, 7 th Grade Special Education Teacher Central Middle School S Attendance ~ Ability to take homeroom/daily attendance and individual class attendance S Gradebook ~ Provides assignments, up-to-date grades, log of latest activity, homework/quiz/test averages, uploaded documents (assignments or project directions, rubrics, homework, etc…parents please note that full implementation of the academic portion of the student portal is not mandatory for teachers at this time) S Homework ~ Daily assignments posted with detailed instructions listed under specific class periods S Email ~ Email parents, students, classes of students concerning specific grades or reminders or upcoming tests/quizzes/projects

A Principal’s Perspective Daniel Gilbert, Principal Broad Meadows Middle School S Collaborative Effort between Home and School S 21 st Century Learning ~ Technology Integration S My Resources / Calendars / Student Locker S Class/Homework Assignments S Improve Student Performance S Real time access to grades and assignments

Additional Supports and Resources S Help within the Portal* S User Guides* S Quick Reference Cards* S Short “How to Videos* S QPS Website~Parent Links S Aspen Publications (monthly) S PTO Meetings * These tools were created by Follett Software and explains all functions of the Portal.

Special Acknowledgements!!! S Ms. Jennifer Fay-Beers, Principal ~ Central Middle School Custodial Team S QHS Culinary Arts Program S QPS Educational and Informational Technology Team Members S Chuck Phelan and the City of Quincy IT Team S Aspen Champion Presenters